Jeff Baltes

I began teaching elementary school in the city of Tonawanda in 1969. In 1979 I became principal of Huth Road School on Grand Island until 1985. I left the Buffalo area in 1985, relocating to Troy,New York, where I was assistant superintendent of schools for 4 1/2 years; became superintendent of the Coxsackie-Athens school district for 16 years, retiring early in 2005. I've continued to be active in education as a professional development specialist and consultant for BOCES and board development consultant for boards of education in the area.

I was married twice; I divorced my first wife after 24 years. I married a second time and she died after 14 years of marriage. I came out about 10 years ago and have since been very active in the Albany LGBT community.

I am Vice-President of the Board of the Pride Center of the Capital Region and I'm also active in the Hudson Valley LGBTQ Center in Kingston, New York, where I was also a former Board member. My partner lives in Kingston, and we travel between our two homes in the Hudson Valley and the capital District of New York.

Avid traveler...much of Europe, Caribbean, Tahiti, Alaska, and supporter of the arts...especially Broadway theater and local and regional venues.

I have never been one to "relive the past," particularly since my "present" is so much more satisfying than my younger years. I have no particularly fond memories of high school years and could not wait to graduate to move on to college and a professional life.